Chapter 186

Chapter 186 - War of Wrath (3)

When speaking of a solid castle, it usually refers to a place flanked by a river, cliff, moat, etc.

Sludge Hold doesn't have such things. The terrain was flat, and besieging the castle was possible as much as one wanted.

However, even if just 1 week passes while besieged, the attacking army would all have one foot placed in the netherworld.

"It's a disgusting castle."

Rex grimaced.

If you put about 90% emotion into the modifier 'disgustingly' in the idiomatic expression 'disgustingly strong', it perfectly describes the castle in front of their eyes.

The swamp surrounding the castle had a hellish visual. The only thing an army could move on was a single road penetrating the front and rear gates of the castle.

"Baron Lester. I heard you have been inside that place."

"Yes, Excellency. I had a chance to stay for a few days during my squireship. I grew up as Earl Harvester's godson in my childhood."

Even if it isn't necessarily a marriage alliance, it's common for nobles to form ties in this way.

The South, where commerce is developed, and the East, where agriculture is developed, were good trading partners, and they also have a common target of vigilance called the Center. Therefore, the great lords also tend to encourage such friendships.

Everywhere in the vast mudflats surrounding the castle, there are skeletons and partially decayed corpses.

"It seems they don't clean it at all."

"The miasma created as those things rot soon becomes a weapon protecting the castle. There is no reason to clean it."

"Do they perhaps execute criminals here too?"

"That is correct. Because there is no need to bury the corpses after execution here. You just have to throw them in an appropriate place."

Lester was sincerely surprised. Because Eugene immediately inferred the culture likely formed in that region just by glancing over it once.

Even if it doesn't seem like a big deal, such a discerning eye is an important virtue of a great lord. It served as an advantage that greatly reduced trial and error, misunderstandings, waste, etc., in ruling.

"If they ever threw it in a place other than the swamp, the guards would dispatch and impose a fine. The skeletons in the swamp range from a few weeks short to over a thousand years long."

"What about the castle residents catching infectious diseases?"

"The castle is completely separated from the swampland, and there is a small hot spring inside. Those serving are obligated to bathe every day."

It's probably a countermeasure built up experientially. When they lived unhygienically, there wouldn't have been just one or two corpses they had to clean up from the inside.

"I heard an infectious disease is turning right now, so I wonder what happened?"

"I guess the Center bastards don't wash well."

"...Well, it's a good thing for us."

"To bypass the castle, you have to detour south for quite a long time. With an army of this size, the loss of supplies and time would be enormous."

Baron Lester has a sorrowful face at the reality where memories of his childhood have now become an obstacle.

"How on earth did the Central army capture it? It seems there's no answer with frontal assault tactics."

"That is a fortress for 100% military use without any productive capacity or the like. Normally, they keep a small garrison, and when wartime comes, a designated vassal enters the castle and defends it."

"They'd probably leave their families in the rear and come."

"Yes. In normal times, they would stay safely in the territory behind the castle, but..."

Right now, Vikings instigated by the Kruger family were running amok.

"Could they have abandoned their mission and left the castle?"

"As of right now, we cannot know. It will probably be revealed when deciding rewards and punishments after the war ends."

Eugene decided to advise surrender just in case.

"Are Your Excellency going personally?"

"Going riding this guy, wouldn't the probability of succeeding in persuasion increase even by 1%? There's also something I want to check separately."

Baron Lester could not stop his lord stroking Might's neck. A monarch's attitude of standing at the forefront on the battlefield, whether in combat or reconnaissance, was a virtue to be praised.

Especially in the case of advising surrender, the commander going personally and speaking shook the defenders' hearts stronger than sending an envoy.

* * *

What would happen if a certain general was given an army of ten thousand and a handful of food supplies, and was told to attack an enemy country for 1 year?

Most generals would evaporate the army in a few months and then get angry.

- This is not my fault! Providing no support whatsoever, what am I supposed to do?

On the other hand, there are also generals who truly carry out the operation for 1 year.

Although that path behind them would be full of the blood tears and corpses of innocent people, and destroyed foundations of life.

Someone might argue against that tragedy.

- General! If you act this wickedly, what will you do about the resentment the country will receive?

Then the general would answer like this.

- My duty is up to preserving the army of 10,000 somehow and carrying out the operation. Taking responsibility for the aftermath is the job of the politicians who gave such instructions.

King Kruger is typical of the latter. On top of that, he is a terrifying soldier who would completely occupy the country, going beyond attacking for 1 year.

It might be one thing if he was a general, but a type where it's a big problem if born as a monarch. An era like right now where that actually happens is called turbulent times.

And in turbulent times, even warriors closed their eyes miserably just like serfs.

"When did he die?"

"I don't know. He didn't even cough and his face was peaceful, so I thought he was having a good night's sleep for once."

The mercenaries guarding Sludge Hold mourned in front of their colleague who had turned cold after they woke up from sleep. But they couldn't just leave the corpse like this.

"Idiot! What the hell are you doing?"

Two new recruits trying to throw the corpse outside the castle walls stopped at the veteran's scolding.

"Then do we leave it inside the castle?"

"If you're going to throw it, throw it towards the east gate. Are you going to roll the corpse to a place where all the enemies can see? To brag saying 'We are dying because an infectious disease is circulating!'?"

"Ah..."

The mercenaries holding the corpse went down the stairs and headed towards the opposite side.

"Cough! Cough!"

Everywhere they passed, there were mercenaries lying on field cots coughing and groaning.

In one corner, a horse that died from disease was burning fiercely. It was too heavy to throw outside the castle, and if they chopped it up, the risk of another disease spreading from the spilling bodily fluids was too great.

Gulp.

A smell of meat that's too savory. Hungry mercenaries from all directions swallowed their saliva.

"Don't even dream of thinking about eating it."

Even the veteran glaring fiercely has his mouth watering.

"B-But wouldn't it be fine if it's roasted on fire?"

"It's not all safe just because it's roasted on fire."

"Please permit just one bite. Because if I pick the mold off the rationed bread, not even half is left."

True to being defenders left behind by the Central army in poor conditions, they lacked both food and supplies.

The lieutenants were similarly anxious looking at the soldiers who were at their limits both physically and mentally.

"When is the promised supply coming?"

"Look at those sacks piled up over there. The enemies will be able to eat and drink like emperors until we dry up and die."

At the lieutenants' pressing, Dolph, who leads the Loyal Dog Mercenary Corps, closed his eyes.

"Since His Highness is sweeping through the East right now, he will send a transport unit soon."

"But..."

"If we just successfully carry out this defense mission, a Baron's title awaits me. I will let all of you live prosperously as VIPs in my territory."

The lieutenants did not take Dolph's words lightly. Surprisingly, they found hope through his words in this poor situation.

Currently in the Central army, there were already over 10 people who participated in the war as mercenary captains, received territories, and became nobles.

Those with small merits received places in bad locations or plundered places, and those with large merits received relatively intact places.

- Golden Shield Mercenary Captain Nolt. I shall bestow Solon and Ullman to you as fiefs and exempt you from taxes for 10 years.

- Your Grace is immeasurable, Your Highness!

However, the mercenary captains were ecstatic just with that, as if embraced in the arms of god.

They are the ones who could wager not only their lives but even their souls as gambling stakes if they could receive a territory and live as a noble.

If King Kruger had been an indiscriminating tyrant, he would have been stabbed and died at a drinking party long ago. To enemies he might be a madman, but to his subordinates, he was a monarch who gave generously.

At that time, a commotion arose.

"Don't eat it, you son of a bitch!"

"Aaargh!"

The mercenary who tried to lay hands on the pitch-black burned horse carcass was hit on the shoulder with a club.

The lieutenants watching that sight bit their parched lips. Tongues that didn't produce a single drop of saliva pleaded for thirst.

The hot spring inside the castle, which always spewed water bubbling, was completely dried up.

"Damn Eastern bastards."

The previous garrison destroyed the waterway where the hot spring came up and blocked it off.

Thanks to that, Dolph's mercenary corps was hard-pressed to even find water to drink, let alone wash. It even became damp everywhere as water seeped up to the floor all over the place instead of the blocked waterway.

It's the decisive reason an infectious disease came to circulate inside the castle.

At that time, Eugene approached in front of the castle majestically, fluttering his Wendigo cloak.

"Halt! Halt! Who's there..."

The guard on the spire was about to shout but his voice grew small.

"Who are you?"

Normally he would have shouted 'You there! Who are you?!', but the giant warhorse glaring with purple eyes was too terrifying to do so.

"Eugene Meyer. The guardian of the South and the commander of that army. I demand that you open the castle gates and surrender."

No answer returned. It wasn't that they refused, but because the guard went to call the captain, Dolph.

It absolutely wasn't an opponent a mere soldier could handle. Although it would be the same that Dolph couldn't handle it either.

After a while, a bald man with a flushed face appeared.

"Loyal Dog Mercenary Captain Dolph. I am taking responsibility for the defense of this castle."

"Don't you have a surname? King Kruger wouldn't stick just anyone in a place this important."

There were countless cases of doing mercenary work after being a noble and falling into ruin.

"I am of commoner origin. A surname, I'll likely be granted one by the King if I defend this place from you."

Eugene intuitively sensed just from a short conversation that the man named Dolph wouldn't surrender.

"I'll speak the main point directly. Disarm entirely, open the castle gates, and surrender."

"A loyal dog does not wag its tail at intruders."

"When that intruder was holding a sausage, it wagged it quite well. Even if I look like this, I'm a body that lived in the countryside for nearly 20 years."

"..."

Dolph made a bizarre expression.

Is that man making fun of him right now? A man who looks exactly like someone who would have been raised luxuriously in an enormous, prominent family doing so.

"You guys are in a starving and thirsty situation. Not to mention the disease. You've kept enough loyalty to your employer, so just surrender. This is not a shameful thing."

"This castle has a hot spring and food is sufficient. Everyone is firmer than ever..."

"Stop putting on useless bluffs. Because I already know all the internal situations."

Next to Eugene was Homi riding the desert warhorse Sandy and holding the Meyer family's flag.

Her nose captured the stench of vomit, filth, and corpses flowing out from inside the castle. There was absolutely no refreshing smell of warm water and steam.

"If you surrender even now, I promise everyone's safety on my honor. I will not confiscate your equipment or property either. If there are sins committed before or during the war, I will pardon those too."

Eugene saw the soldiers on the castle walls being tempted. However, this is just the beginning.

"I will provide hot baths for everyone and prepare food and liquor that nobles eat. After the feast is over, I will send you to the Shade Garden and give you a recuperation period until all your injuries and illnesses heal. I will also provide a small amount of travel money."

"!!!"

"!!!"

"!!!"

It was truly an unprecedentedly exceptional condition. Quite a few defenders looked at Dolph with desperate faces.

However, there are still more subordinates who maintain their composure for loyalty towards Dolph, respect, and the reward upon successful defense.

The mercenary corps' name isn't Loyal Dog for nothing. It's also the reason King Kruger entrusted it to them.

"It will be hard to find surrender conditions this good in this crazy turning civil war. The administrator of the South and master of Haven, I promise on Meyer's honor."

"...I say this again, but a loyal dog does not surrender."

However, ultimately Dolph chose struggle.

"Everyone speaks of His Highness Kruger like a devil, but to me, he is someone more gracious than anyone else. The pardon Your Excellency spoke of, I already received from him. I will definitely defend this place, and His Highness will send a relief army and supplies."

"As you please."

Eugene nodded and raised his finger to point at the mudflat spread out next to it. Accurately, the rotting skeletons within it.

"You guys will become members of that swampland."

Negotiations broke down.

* * *

Eugene, who returned, showed both his palms in front of the vassals, knights, and witches looking at him from all directions. And he smiled affably.

"Sorry. I failed."

At the sight of her husband like that, Valda covered her face with her hands.

- It's good to get along without reserve with your retainers, but you are a great lord now. I think it would be better to equip a bit more dignity.

- It's not easy.

It was a part she had pointed out a few times, but Eugene didn't really have any intention of fixing it.

"Tsk! Guys who kick away the blessing of a lifetime."

"To be this generous even to the likes of mercenaries. The people of the Center will also desire to be ruled by Your Excellency."

Moreover, contrary to Valda's worries, the retainers' reactions were only warm.

To have his authority flawed by something like this, the achievements accumulated so far and his usual actions were too terrifying.

Thus, the agenda moved on to siege methods.

"There will be no army better at sieges than us! Just leave it to us! We will surely make it fall and let Meyer's flag flutter!"

Eugene rejected the request of the Hammer Brotherhood who volunteered with loyalty.

Although glad in his heart, he didn't want to drop elite soldiers into the mud just to capture one gateway. Dwarves, as much as they are short, will be even more vulnerable to contamination.

Moreover, siege weapons cannot be operated in the swampland. It's a location where the angle is not at all right to even hang ladders.

"That castle is impregnable. There is no precedent of it being captured by frontal assault tactics when both sides are equipped."

Since it's the words of Baron Lester who knows the castle well, it must be certain.

Even a castle with nothing special is bound to produce massive casualties if charged into recklessly. Sludge Hold is a wicked stronghold where charging recklessly is forced.

Perhaps because its notoriety is so great, none of the retainers thirsty for meritorious deeds dared to step forward.

Except for exactly one person.

"Leave it to me."

The one who raised her hand was Cassandra.

"We will climb over the castle walls and open the castle gates."

Her figure looking as if the Creator molded it with tens of thousands of lavender flowers.

Everyone merely looked at beautiful Cassandra's face. Eugene did not dislike her arrogant smile.

* * *

A few days later at midnight.

Cassandra and the female warriors she personally picked gathered in Eugene's tent.

"De Vere Castle was a cliff on 3 sides. Compared to capturing that place, it's much better."

They are the ones with the most outstanding skills even in the Caracal Special Forces.

- Caracal?

- It's a feline beast of prey with impressive black tufted ears. With a dirty temper that hisses as easily as breathing, it's agile enough to even catch birds.

- It suits you girls perfectly.

- Hoho! Thanks for the compliment.

Standing in a parade rest position, they are wearing black-dyed Lamia bodysuits.

The attire, which highlights both wicked breasts, beautiful curves, and trained muscles, possessed power that destroyed men's composure.

For reference, Eugene wore it too.

"It's tight."

"This was made to be okay even for a larger person to wear."

"Places other than the body are..."

"Ah!"

"Oh my!"

Alluring snorting sounds rang out continuously in Eugene's tent.

The operation plan is simple. With the help of a witch skilled in meteorology and astronomy, determine the darkest night. After that, climbing over the castle walls at night, an hour before dawn.

The Caracal Special Forces are equipped with the most advanced rock-climbing skills and equipment in this world.

Light and flexible yet trained to the limit, Dark Elf female bodies. They demonstrate the best efficiency in this kind of operation.

Inside the Lamia suits, stab-proof pads protecting vital points were added, and specialized weapons to assassinate enemies after infiltration were also packed.

"It is reassuring that the Lord and Valda are joining us."

"I am the only one climbing the castle. Valda will only accompany us up to below the castle."

Thanks to the magic of the forest, this time they became able to use a rope far superior to a grappling hook rope.

Valda, who wore a bodysuit and applied camouflage cream to her face, inspected the magic vines.

"It's time."

The two-block cut female warrior observing the sky spoke.

The Caracal Special Forces covertly slipping out of the camp in the dark. It is a dangerous mission, but none of them show any signs of fear.

It's not just because of the confidence derived from the sweat and results they've shed so far. The best knight and the best magician are together with them.

The trust coming from that instilled a strange sense of anticipation in them as well. It also seemed they were being too carefree, but whatever works.

"Now, follow me. Let's add Sludge Hold to Caracal's loot, following De Vere Castle."

Right now, they simply want to follow looking at the Lord's back filling their vision in front of them.

* * *

It's a night where even the moon is hidden, but if they move via the central road, they will be caught immediately.

Eugene entered the mudflat and approached from the direction most vulnerable from the castle's surveillance. Above their heads, they wore camouflage cloths with patterns similar to the mudflat.

'The Hammer Brotherhood made it properly.'

The shoes with finger-length steel spikes embedded in the soles helped them break through the mud without a problem.

Naturally, walking in a lowered posture wearing these kinds of shoes requires a tremendous sense of balance.

- Will Valda be able to infiltrate wearing these?

- There is no need to worry, Cassandra. I too am a magician, while simultaneously a gatherer and manager of the forest. I am skilled at overcoming slipperiness and shaking.

At a certain special force member's concern, Valda revealed her confidence.

- Just a sense of balance is not enough. Walking through a mudflat in stealth vastly overworks the muscles too. You have to maintain a difficult posture for a long time, you see.

Eugene reassured the still-worried member.

- Do not worry about that either. I guarantee Valda will not spread out in the middle.

- ...Why are you answering?

Empowered by such excellent preparations, Eugene's party reached below the castle walls.

"Please."

At Eugene's word, Valda placed both hands on the castle wall and chanted a spell. Then the vines wrapping her arms swelled and climbed up the castle wall.

'Oh.'

'Amazing.'

At that spectacle, both Cassandra and the female warriors shone their eyes. Homi's tail was tied wrapped around her waist, so flinching was all it could do.

The vines that stretched out and got up on the castle wall wrapped around the protruding parts like snakes and secured themselves firmly.

Tug tug.

Pulling it as a test, it's tied very sturdily.

"I will climb first."

Cassandra and the two-block female warrior each grabbed the 2 ropes.

Eugene tried to climb first himself, but all the women engaging in the operation opposed it in unison.

- That honor alone is sufficient.

- Only this time, we will climb first. Because we don't know what kind of dangers lurk.

In this kind of operation, the one who climbs first is the most in danger. If unlucky, they could meet eyes with the defender holding a crossbow while hanging on the castle wall.

- Still, me stepping forward is...

- If push comes to shove, they'll have to jump down while climbing. It would be most safe if you catch them from below.

- That is true too.

The special forces members admired Valda's skill in easily persuading her husband.

The two Dark Elf women distanced themselves at a tremendous speed, raising both hands alternately. Then lastly, they lightly bounced their bodies up and hid their figures over the castle wall.

'Now the die is cast.'

Eugene and Homi immediately grabbed the ropes. Thanks to their innate monstrous strength, they could climb the castle wall at a faster speed than the two ahead of them.

"..."

"..."

What the knight and squire who arrived at the top saw were two dying mercenaries.

Cassandra covered a mercenary's mouth with one hand and slit his throat with the other hand. An awl was being thrust deeply from the other mercenary's jaw towards his brain.

Present-day Blackhand clan members mostly devote themselves to training as warriors. It is the Caracal Special Forces that inherits the assassination group skills developed by their ancestors.

Since they were hiding the corpses and keeping watch, they came over noiselessly two by two in succession.

"Take control of the front gate."

Sludge Hold doesn't have secret gates. Because it's a castle built on the single road penetrating the swampland. The front gate and rear gate, one on each side of the road, are everything.

This was also a factor making capture difficult. Even if a traitor emerged, a large number of collaborators were needed to secretly open the castle gates. There was also the fact that they would be caught quickly because of the opening and closing noise.

"Two at a 30m distance."

At Eugene's whisper, Cassandra and Homi, whose movements are the most stealthy, stepped forward.

The appearance of them approaching while passing through as if permeating into the darkness-covered puddles was to the extent that even allies found it hard to track.

The one who attacked first was Homi.

Crack!

Covering the sentry's mouth from behind, she snapped his neck just like that. Although a difficult technique, it has the advantage of leaving no trace since blood doesn't flow.

Cassandra, who had learned footwork for assassins, was more impressive. Moving on all fours with her chest barely touching the ground, it was possible to just engage from the front entirely.

Thwack!

Cassandra's dagger, which suddenly soared from in front of his feet, penetrated the mercenary's throat. With the sound of some air escaping as the end, he went limp.

There was no need for Eugene to give any instructions. All Caracal Special Forces members are the best experts of this era.

"Enem..."

By this point, the enemies did notice the anomaly. Because the duty officer was also paying attention as much as it was the darkest night.

Pfft!

Pffft!

However, before he could scream, he got hit by 4 poisoned darts in the neck and collapsed.

"Keep moving."

The female warriors who released the blowguns from their mouths almost reached the watchtower above the castle gate.

Pfft!

Pfft!

Those hit by poisoned darts in exposed places like necks or cheeks collapsed and trembled.

The female warriors receiving special training possess very powerful lung capacity. Those beautiful lips delivered the kiss of death flying without a sound.

"Secured the castle gate crane."

"Send the signal."

The two female warriors on top of the castle wall lit the signal flares and dropped them. Red-burning sticks fall outside the castle walls.

Even if not visible to the inside garrison, it's clearly visible to the attacking army waiting outside.

"The operation succeeded."

"Total advance."

The infantry, which had been holding their breath in the dark, advanced towards the castle gate all at once.

"It's a surprise attack!"

Only then did the alarm finally ring. But it was too late.

Rumble.

The castle gate was already rising, and the enemies who blindly rushed in went to the netherworld in a row at Eugene's hand.

Chwack!

"???"

When the 2 colleagues who were charging together in front suddenly disappeared, the defender wondered.

However, realizing that what splattered fully on his face and upper body was blood, strength untied from his legs.

"Hiiik!"

Two colleagues changed into 8 pieces with their upper bodies, lower bodies, and even arms sliced off by the horizontally swung giant axe. That blew away his will to fight in one blow.

Whack!

He got hit on the head by the back body of the axe Eugene swung and fainted.

"Waaaaaaah!"

The Hammer Brotherhood wrapped in heavy armor entire body poured into the castle in a swarm, letting out roars. Intermittently, the defenders shot bolts, but there is no damage.

Dwarves equipped with the most solid armor and shields and even short statures. They were strong against blind projectile weapons in night raids.

Crying sounds alongside the noise of breaking bones arose from all directions. Dwarven crossbows embedded themselves in shields and gambesons, pouring out blood.

"It's over. You all worked hard."

On top of the castle gate, Eugene let out a sigh of relief looking at the hundreds of torches connecting from the road to inside the castle.

"Are there any rewards you all want? Medals and prize money will go out naturally, but I mean something you want separately from that."

"Well. Right now, I'm just ecstatic with the texture of this castle wall alone."

Cassandra smiled, stroking the stone wall. Into the Caracal's achievements, Sludge Hold has been added following De Vere Castle.

The Britannians who witnessed this spectacle today will forever sing of the danger of the beautiful Dark Elf female warriors.

"If there's one wish, it's a bath. I heard the hot spring here is famous like that."

"It seems the water supply has been cut off though?"

The smell Homi's nose caught too, and the condition of the soldiers on the castle walls too. It was absolutely not an appearance of water being abundant.

"I guess the previous garrison committed sabotage before it was taken. However, since there are plenty of dwarven engineers, it seems repairing it will be possible."

"In any case, to utilize this castle, restoring the hot spring is essential. Try to arrange an opportunity somehow before departure."

"Thank you!"

Eugene looked down at the purification team composed of tribal witches, female doctors, and slaves entering.

They can't leave an empty strategic stronghold they captured with much effort, but it's a situation where an infectious disease is circulating.

If it were another army, they would have had to endure the risk and station troops, but Eugene could eliminate the danger in a short time with decontamination work.

"Then will the Lord also join?"

Cassandra laughed leaning against the castle wall. Even though it's a night the moon didn't rise, her purple pupils sparkle as if emitting light themselves.

"Join what?"

"Come on, you know everything!"

"Valda is down there, so you don't have to mind her."

"We will scrub your back for you. Since you are so wide, it would be hard to wash yourself alone."

The special forces members clap laughing loudly.

"..."

Eugene smiled awkwardly while unfastening the fixing string on Homi's waist.

"No making naughty jokes to a married man."

Finally freed, Homi made a refreshed expression as if her tail had come alive.

Rumble.

The rear gate goes up urgently. Perhaps the defenders opened it wanting to run away, but they were immediately subdued.

Through the slightly opened rear gate, the road connecting to the East was seen. Now there is nothing between the Central army and Eugene.

It became time to end the civil war that made countless people suffer.